A look at how to achieve an aesthetically perfect smile.
Tooth whitening is continuing to grow in popularity all around the world. As of February 2020, 22 per cent of people in the UK expressed a desire to get their teeth professionally whitened, and a further 10 per cent reported that they definitely would or that they already had. As we come up to the festive season, many more people will feel that this is a good time to achieve their perfectly white smile, so you can expect more patients to request tooth-whitening treatments in the coming weeks.
However, some of your patients may already have, or may require composite restorations as well. This may be a challenge as, traditionally, composite shades have been colour matched to natural tooth shades. So, what are your options for patients who require both whitening and composite bonding?
Tooth whitening growth
The general popularity of tooth whitening treatments is increasing globally. Young people are particularly influenced by media, and therefore tend to be more aware of, and more concerned about dental aesthetics. Generally, this will influence their satisfaction about their natural teeth, as well as the results of tooth whitening treatment.
The increased popularity of a white smile is not only impacting professional whitening treatments, with teeth whitening strips and whitening toothpastes also becoming more sought after. There is also more public awareness of the need to maintain good oral hygiene, to help prevent staining and discolouration occurring in the first place. Due to exposure to the media, some younger patients may also have an interest in other dental cosmetic treatments such as veneers, composite bonding, and even crowns as well. And, similarly to wedding season, many people feel Christmas is a good time to undergo teeth whitening treatments as people spend more time with friends and family and want to look their best in photos. So, dental professionals should do their best to prepare to provide excellent aesthetic results for as many patients as possible.
Composite bonding and teeth whitening
Some patients may be under the impression that you are able to bleach both their natural teeth and composite restorations. However, composite cannot be bleached. This can cause an aesthetic concern, as it will create a clear margin and a very obvious colour difference. In cases like these you should remove the existing composite and replace it with a different coloured composite, ensuring it is precisely colour-matched to the patient’s professionally whitened teeth.
Composite is used frequently in daily practice, and is incredibly versatile – it is used for direct restorations, closing gaps, and cementation to name a few applications. It’s also often used in aesthetic areas, because traditionally, it matches the colour of the patient’s teeth very well. As popularity of teeth whitening grew rapidly in the 1990s, it became harder for dentists to find shades that matched. This led to the development of whiter shades of composite. However, even now, it’s difficult for dentists to find composites that can match the whitest teeth.
Meeting patient expectations and achieving great aesthetic results
To ensure you meet patient expectations, first look at the products you currently use. Are you able to accommodate for the growing trend of whiter than white teeth? You should also make sure to fully explain the expected outcome to your patient, if they are used to seeing photos online of the perfect smile, they may be disappointed if you are unable to achieve the same results using composite bonding and whitening.
This being said, the Filtek Universal Restorative from 3M is a fantastic solution for composite bonding. It utilises just eight designer shades for a streamlined armamentarium plus an Extra White (XW) to cover the 19 VITA classical and bleach shades.* And the shades have a universal opacity to meet the majority of your clinical needs, which also blends to the surrounding dentition. The XW shade simplifies the colour-matching process by allowing you to whiten restorations without the need for an additional speciality shade.* And for cases with staining and dark areas, use the Pink Opaquer (PO), which will stop dark areas from tarnishing your aesthetic results by neutralising areas before overlaying an appropriate shade. Filtek Universal Restorative from 3M is durable, and specifically designed to provide superior aesthetic results – the shades universal opacity allows the composite to blend in more naturally, and the fluorescent pigments give restorations a realistic appearance.
Shade matching can be a challenge in some restorative cases, so be sure you have the materials on hand which will help you achieve the best results possible.
For more information, call 08705 360036 or visit www.3m.co.uk/Dental
References available on request.